We had the fantastic privilege of meeting and speaking with Shouta Aoi, a Japanese singer and voice actor who visited the Philippines for his performance at the Japanese Anime Music concert at Cosplay Mania 2025. He shared with us his passion for singing and voice acting, his connection with fans worldwide through music, and the secret behind his iconic voice.
Parts of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.
Shouta Aoi Shares Creative Experience in Voice Acting and Singing
Shouta Aoi-san is known for his charm and his one-of-a-kind “angelic” voice. He’s active in a wide range of fields, including voice acting, music, and stage performance. Aoi-san started his music career in 2006 and made his voice acting debut in 2011. He is most popularly recognized from his role as Ai Mikaze in the Utano☆Princesama series and Geordo Stuart from My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, as well as his lead acting role in the musical Dream High.
As a dynamic personality across multiple creative fields, it was, hands down, amazing to see how brilliant his enthusiasm was up close. Aoi-san’s unique presence and ethereal voice are truly captivating, and when we asked him if his experiences had influenced his performances in both fields, he said that his acting connects to his music. It works in a way that the emotions he experiences as a theatre actor also get translated into lyrics for his music.
For instance, he mentioned how one of his songs resonates strongly with him.
“The song ‘I am’, which I also wrote, holds a very personal meaning to me because it’s about my own life experiences. And even if the song was written from my experience, I think that people around the world can also relate to it.”
Next, we were curious to learn about how he takes care of his voice to maintain his pure sound. Aoi-san let us in on his secret, proving to us that consistency and dedication are truly the recipe for success.
“Aside from basic ones that are also being practiced by other voice actors and singers, I have no special way of taking care of my voice. Although I like spicy food and I eat a lot of it even if it might not be good for my throat. However, I do make sure to do humming daily. If the muscles are not used, they weaken; that’s why I hum daily to practice my muscles so I can reach the high notes and practice my high energy.”
We also asked what his fondest memory performing live was, and he reminisced back to when a ladybug appeared during his solo concert at Yoyogiba National Gymnasium in Tokyo in February 2017. This concert was the final day of his first Tokyo-Osaka tour, and was attended by approximately 10,000 people. However, it was the appearance of a ladybug that made the event extra special for him.
“I have a lot of fond memories, but one of them is when a ladybug came to join me in my live performance. I had to rescue the ladybug since it might get stepped on. This was also captured in the DVD, so I think that it has become a fond memory not only for me, but for my fans as well.”
He continued to share that he also has a lot of favorite encounters with fans. The most memorable was when the fans would put their hands together, as if in prayer. For Aoi-san, it seemed like he had become a god who could grant prayers, and he felt touched by the gesture in that moment.
Exploring New Adventures and More
When asked if he had a particular, ultimate dream role across his multimedia platforms, Aoi-san said that he leaves the idea open to the fans. “I’ve done a lot of roles already, so I’m curious to know what fans want to see next [from me]. As for a role I want to do, I want to portray a ninja in a movie.”
He further added his wish to collaborate with Kiyoshi Hikawa, a Japanese enka singer. “Among the artists I have not yet collaborated with, I want to collaborate with Kiyoshi Hikawa (KIINA), as his creativity is really good. He has a lot of passion and soul that he puts into his songs, and I think that’s beautiful.”
Outside of music and acting, we also discovered that Aoi-san had a wonderful “dream project” that he’d like to take on. “I would like to open a café! I hope to be able to create pastries, and then I would incorporate all my experiences during my travels overseas.”
Cosplay Mania 2025 is just one of his many, many travels abroad. The presence of our favorite singers and voice actresses coming to the Philippines is a lifelong wish that a lot of us anime and music fans share. That’s why it feels like a dream come true for us to be graced with Aoi-san’s visit to the Philippines. When asked about his thoughts on this, he shared with us the moment he received the news.
“[After discovering that my Filipino fans were excited to see me perform], I am very happy and thankful for the fans’ support.” He also mentioned in another topic that he’d be very glad to bring along his fellow voice actor friends back to the Philippines. He said he’d want to bring Daiki Yamashita and Kotaro Nishiyama, and that they would have a lot of fun together during their stay.
Heartfelt Gratitude, Message, and Dreams for the Future
Shouta Aoi-san shared that he’s thankful for the love that he’s received from the fans in the last ten years in the industry. I think we can all agree that his performances as both an actor and a singer are undeniably amazing, so it’s no surprise that he’s become an inspiration to many old and new fans all over the world. When we mentioned this to him, he seemed quite surprised and moved by it.
“My voice used to be an insecurity, so I’m really thankful that you said that my voice has been an inspiration. I thank the fans for their support, and I will continue to do my best.”
Aoi-san also shared with us what he’d like people to remember him by, whether as a singer, voice actor, or something even more personal. He said that he would be grateful if they could support his artistry for another ten years and that he hopes to be remembered for his creativity.
When asked if he had any advice for aspiring individuals who want to follow a career in performing, he said to be prepared for the journey.
“Don’t be afraid to take on the challenge! I also faced challenges along the way. I think there will be a lot to be nervous about in pursuing your career. We don’t really know what the future has in store for us, but if you really love singing, voice acting, or acting, don’t be afraid to take on the challenge.“
As the exclusive media interview came to a close, the last question that we asked of Shouta Aoi-san was if he had a special message he wanted to share with his Filipino fans. He mentioned that this was his first time in the Philippines, and he is again very thankful for the fans’ support. Lastly, he invites everyone to look forward to joining him in his next performance.
“I will be having a live orchestra in January 2026! I understand that it might not be easy for everyone to come to Japan to join the event, but I hope that those who can come will be able to enjoy it for those who can’t. I also hope that I can deliver an emotional performance that will reach even those who won’t be able to join.”
We’d like to thank Shouta Aoi for coming to the Philippines and for taking the time to speak to us! Follow him on Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube. Aoi-san’s setlist at Cosplay Mania’s JAM Concert is also available to listen to on multiple streaming platforms.
Thank you as well to Cosplay.ph for having us at Cosplay Mania 2025. Visit the Cosplay Mania Facebook page and X (Twitter) for more updates on their future anime and cosplay events.
Interview Assistance: Ken Pueyo
Photos via Cosplay.ph
Disclaimer: Anime Corner is a media partner for Cosplay Mania 2025
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